Shoe tree



Aug. 7, 1945-. ss 2,381,419

SHOE TREE Filed Aug. 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Al Fred Atlass ATTORNEY.

L W- 7, 1945* A. ATLASS 2,381,419

SHOE TREE Filed Aug. 18, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR! A lFred Atlass ATTORNEY.

Aug. 7, 1945.

A. ATLASS SHOE TREE Filed Aug. 18, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. A|Frec\ AHO-S Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATE PATENT orslca i snon TREE Alfred Atlass, New Ybrk, N. Y. Application August is, 1944, serial No. 550,059

(01. lit-128.2)

.7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoe trees.

More specifically,'the invention proposes the construction of a shoe tree characterized by having a part for fitting in the toe of a shoe and .a spring-pressed part for engaging the inner sole of the shoe. 7

Still further, it is proposed to provide a shoe tree as aforesaid for open heel shoes, having a spring energized member adapted to press against the inner sole of the shoe, and a ratchet for coaction with the member to hold it in various positions. I 7

Still further, is proposed to provide a shoe treev having a ratchet as aforesaid in which the spring member is adjustably slidable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe tree for both open heel and closed heel shoes.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a side view of a shoe tree constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the shoe tree of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the shoe tree.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view like Fig. 4 but with the spring member of the shoe tree in engagement with the ratchet thereof.

Fig. 6 is an inverted perspective view of a shoe tree constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. '7 is a side view of another shoe tree constructed in accordance with a further modification of this invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the tree of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view of the tree of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line l0|0 of Fig. 8.

'Fig. 11 is a rear view of a toe portion of the tree of Fig. '7.

Fig. 12 is an inverted plan view of a shoe tree constructed in accordance with a further modification of this invention.

The shoe tree shown in Figs. 1-5, according to this invention, is a shoe especially with open heel shoes and comprises a body l0 which may be of wood or plastic, and a spring energized member I I. Body HI has a concave bottom face l2 and a convex top face l3 shaped in conformity with the inner top face of a shoe at the toe and instep portion thereof. The body has an upwardly extending portion II in the rear face I! of which are formed a plurality of ratchet slots l6,

Member II has a portion I! connected to the bottom face by screws l8, a downwardly and rearwardly extending .portion ill at the end of which is a' spherical portion 20 from which extends upwardly a hook 2|. Hook 2| terminates in a part 22 adapted to coact with the ratchet slots IS.

The operation of the shoe tree as as follows:

The shoe tree is for insertion in the toe and instep portion of a shoe, especially an open heel shoe which has no back for coaction with the cam memberof a conventional shoe tree. The shoe tree acts to preserve the shape of the shoe. In order to place the shoe tree in the shoe, a person placeshis thumb on the portion l4 and his index finger in the hook 2| and squeezes them together. When the shoe tree is in the shoe and the hook is released, the spherical portion 20 presses against the inner sole of the shoe,

- holding the shoe tree in place. The spherical tree adapted to be used portion provides an increased friction surface engaging a large surface of the inner sole, thus affording sufllcient friction to prevent the shoe tree from working toward the rear of the shoe.

- In some types of shoes, especially women's soft shoes of narrow widths, the spring action of member ll may be too extreme. The pressure exerted by the spherical portion 20 may be moderated by use of the ratchet slots IS. The hook 2| is squeezed toward the portion l4, and the portion .22 is placed in one of the ratchetslota-the ratchet slot holding the spring member ll compressed. The uppermost ratchet slot is so placed that when portion 22 is disposed therein, the spring action of the member II will be entirely ineffective to exert any force against the inner sole of the shoe.

In the modification of the invention shown in Fig. 6, the construction of the shoe tree is similar to that previously described except that portion I1 is slidably mounted in a guide 23 fastened by screws l8 to the bottom face l2 of the shoe tree. This slidable mounting of the member ll permits adjustment of the portion 20 so that it cfin be caused to bear in the proper place in the s oe.

In the modification of the invention shown in Figs. '1-11, the shoe tree is devised for use in a shoe havinga closed heel. It includes a'body 24 having perforations 2i forv permitting air to pass through the shoe when the shoe tree is in it. The body has a concave bottom face 23 and, a convex top face 21 of suitable shape to fit in a shoe, body 24 extending only in the toe and instep p rtion of the shoe. A slot 23 is formed inthe.

rear wall 29 of the body and a threaded shaft 30 is pivotally connected in the slot for vertical swingingbyascrew3l.

Another shaft 32 is-threaded on shaft 30, shaft 32 having a threaded socket 33 for screwing on the threaded end of the shaft 3|. A cam 34 is pivotally connected to the free end of shaft 32 by downward against the shaft 32, thereby, forcing cam 34 rearwardly into engagement with the'heel of the shoe, this movement forcing the body 24 into the toe of the shoe. If the cam 34 does not engage the heel with sufficient force, it may be adjusted by rotating shaft 32 relative to shaft 30. Shaft 32 can be "unscrewed from shaft 30, and body 24 can be-used in an open heel shoe if desired. However, when it is desired to have a shoe tree that can be used in either an open heel shoe or a closed heel shoe, it is preferred to employ a shoe tree 'as shown in Fig. 12. Only the .body 24 is shown in Fig. 12, but it will be understood that a shaft 32, cam 34 and ,handle 36 will be employed with the body when the shoe tree is to be used in a closed heel shoe. The shoe tree of Fig. 12 differs from the shoe tree of Fig. 7 only in that a spring member ll is attached to the bottom face of the body 24"and ratchet slots l8" are provided in the rear wall of the body 24. When employing the shoe tree in a closed heel shoe, the member I I" is locked in the uppermost ratchet slot .to make it ineffective. When it is employed in an open heel shoe, the shaft 32 is unthreaded from the shaft 30' and the member II" is released from' the ratchet slots, the body 24 then functioning like the body ll of the shoe tree of Fig. 1.

All of the shoe trees, as aforesaid, except for the shafts, screws and spring members, may be made of wood, plastic or other suitable material. The concave bodies, due to their bottom hollow surface, help the shoes to dry out. Each of the shoe trees may be made in several suitable sizes.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to'all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent isz' 1. A shoe support for an open .hee1 shoe comprising a body having a concave bottom face, a convex top face similar in shape to the toe and instep portion of the inside of said shoe, and a rear face, ratchet grooves in said rear face, and a spring metal member secured to said bottom face and extending downwardly and rearwardly from the toe of said body, said member having a spherically shaped portion at its lowermost point adapted to engage the inner sole of said shoe, and a hook extending upwardly from said spherically shaped portion, the free end of said hook being adapted to coact with said ratchet grooves for adlusting the force of said spring member.

2. A shoe support for an'open heel 'shoe comprising a body having a concave bottom face, a

convex top face similar in shape to the toe and instep portion of the inside of said shoe, and a rear face, ratchet grooves in said rear face, a guide secured to said bottom face and a spring metal member slidably secured at its front end in said guide and extending downwardly and rearwardly from the toe of said body, said member having a spherically shaped portion at its lowermost point adapted to engage the inner sole of said shoe, and a hook extending upwardly from said spherically shaped portion, the free end of said hook being adapted to coact with said ratchet grooves for adjusting the force of said spring member, said spring member being adapted to slide on said guide to adjust the position of said spherical portion.

1 3. A shoe tree comprising a body having a concave bottom face and a convex top face similar in shape to the toe and instep portion of the inside of a shoe, a spring metal member secured to said bottom face and extending downwardly and rearwardly from the toe of said body, said member having a spherically shaped portion at its lowermost point adapted to engage the inner sole of said shoe, and a hook extending upwardly from said spherically shaped portion, an extendable rod pivotally secured to said body, and a cam pivotally secured to the end of said rod remote from said body. 1

4. A-shoe tree comprising a body having a concave bottom face, a convex top face similar in shape to the toe and instep portion of the inside .of a shoe, and a rear face connecting said bottom and top faces, a slot in said rear face, a threaded bar pivotally connected in said slot for vertical swinging, a rod screwed on said bar, and a cam member pivotally secured to said rod for vertical swinging, said member having a hook portion at one end and a cam member at the other end whereby when said hook member is moved toward said rod, said cam member moves away from the toe of said body.

5. A shoe tree comprising a body having a concave bottom face, a convex top fac similar in shape to the toe and instep portion of the inside of a shoe, and a rear face connecting said bottom and top faces, a slot in said rear face, a threaded bar pivotally connected in said slot for vertical swinging, a rod removably screwed on said bar, a cam member pivotally secured to said rod for vertical swinging, said member having a hook portion at one end and a cam member at the other end whereby when said hook member is moved toward said rod, said cam member moves away from the toe of said body, and a spring member secured to said bottom face and depending therefrom adapted to engaged the inner sole of a shoe.

6. A shoe tree comprising a body having a concave bottom face, a convex top face similar in shape to the toe and instep portion of the inside of a shoe, and a rear face connecting said bottom and top faces, ratchet grooves in said rear face, a slot in said rear face, a threaded bar pivotally connected in said slot for vertical swinging, a rod screwed on said bar, a cam member pivotally secured to said rod for vertical swinging, said member having a hook portion at one end and a cam member at the other end whereby when said hook member is moved toward said rod, said cam member moves away from the toe of said body, and a spring member secured to said bottom face and extending downwardly and rearwardly, terminating in a hook having a free end, said free end being adapted to coact with said ratchet grooves to adjust the spring pressure of said member.

'1. A shoe tree comprising a wooden perforated body having a concave bottom face, a convex top face similar in shape to the toe and instep portion of the inside of a shoe, and a rear face connecting said bottom and top faces, a slot in said rear face, a threaded metal bar pivotally connected in said slot for vertical swinging; a hollow rod screwed on said bar, and a wooden cam member pivotally secured to said rod for vertical swinging, said member having a finger hook portion at one end and a cam member at the other end whereby when said hook member is moved toward said rod, said cam member moves away from the toe of said body.

' ALFRED ATLASS. 

